The players behind the AI data-center build-out — tech, utility, government, and legal figures
The Big Drop · June 2026
AI Data-Modeling Investigation

The Power
Map

Private money.
Public power.

The who’s who of the AI build-out is racing to construct ever-larger data centers, expanding its reach into the public sector by donating to elected officials and through the many law firms and affiliated entities enlisted to secure the best deal. These projects can be vast—as large as 44 big-box stores—and the facilities can sound like a rocket idling.

Exclusive
Meta’s $27B Hyperion
The Shell · The Governor
· The Lobbyists
PLUS—OpenAI, Microsoft & who’s next
Starring Zuckerberg · Altman · Nadella · Pichai · Huang · Amodei · Jassy · Musk · Ellison · Landry · Scalise · Carter
The series is just getting going
1
Maps published
3
In reporting
$27B+
Construction costs
10
Entities documented
100%
From public records
Latest mapmost recent completed edition
No. 01—Meta · HyperionPublished

$27 billion to build a data center almost as big as Manhattan 

Meta Inc., the company that changed the way people get to know each other, won big after its subsidiary, Laidley LLC, entered Richland Parish—one of the poorest parishes in Louisiana—in 2024. Eager to expand its business, Entergy, the state’s largest utility, worked with Meta and local officials to secure major tax breaks for the data center, while winning approval to build 10 gas-fired plants to power Hyperion—the project’s real name after Meta dropped its code phrase, “Project Sucre.”

With its balance sheet insulated, Meta then adopted a “deal or no deal” stance. The ultimatum was clear: grant $3.3 billion in tax breaks to secure the 1,400-acre Franklin Farm Mega Site, or the company would walk away, as Toyota had in 2017. Meta got its way.

$27B build~$3.3B tax relief$3.78M lobbying10 entities
Read the map →
What each relationship meansthe documented connections behind the build
Hyperion → Laidley LLC · The front

Meta negotiated the purchase of the Hyperion site through a subsidiary. The state’s largest utility backed the project, anticipating significant returns—and got them.

Source · Delaware SoS · LA SoS (foreign LLC)
Laidley LLC → Meta, the disguise

Governor Jeff Landry and key Entergy executives knew early on it was Meta, while many lawmakers had no idea and were asked to sign nondisclosure agreements.

Source · LPSC Docket U-37425
Entergy → Hyperion · The bill

During a non-fiscal legislative session, state officials then rewrote an unrelated broadband bill to grant Meta a sales tax exemption on servers and equipment.

Source · LPSC U-37425 · Earthjustice
Gov. Landry → Hyperion · The incentives

Under the governor’s incentive package, Meta secured a $3.3 billion tax break to build its data center in Richland Parish, a community whose economy had seen better days.

Source · State of Louisiana
Meta → Gov. Landry · Proximity

While the governor fast-tracked Meta’s tax exemptions, his campaign accepted $12,000 from the tech giant.

Source · LA Ethics Administration, 2025
Richland Parish → Hyperion · The concession

Local officials approved sweeping land-use variances and tax breaks required to greenlight the project.

Source · Richland Parish Police Jury
Meta → Meta Platforms PAC · The vehicle

Meta’s corporate PAC is the conduit for its federal candidate contributions.

Source · FEC
Meta PAC → Rep. Scalise · The delegation

$4,000 to the LA-01 Majority Leader, whose seat and committees touch energy and technology.

Source · FEC
Meta PAC → Rep. Carter · The delegation

$3,000 to the LA-02 member who represents the host state in Congress.

Source · FEC
Every mapthe full index — published and in reporting
No. 01Published
Meta · Hyperion

The cost of progress: $27B

Inside the data—and the relationships—behind Meta’s Hyperion project, the most expensive private infrastructure build in U.S. history.

Read the map →
No. 02In reporting
OpenAI

In reporting

Subject and scope under review

Coming soon
No. 03In reporting
Microsoft

In reporting

Subject and scope under review.

Coming soon
No. 04Upcoming
To be announced

Upcoming edition

Subject and scope under review

—
What every map measuresone shared taxonomy across all editions
Shell LLCs

Special vehicles that tech giants use to win favorable terms before disclosing their true identities.

Companies

Big tech companies behind the deals are worth far more today than during the dot-com boom.

Utilities & Infrastructure

Utility operators providing the power, water, sewage, and data networks required to make the site functional.

Officials & regulators

Municipalities, zoning boards, and other agencies that enforce code compliance and issue operational permits.

PACs & contributions

Employee-funded and political action committees that support and advocate to align industry goals with policy.

Lobbying & counsel

Legal experts managing high-stakes litigation and government-relations strategists shaping public policy.